Published at 6th of December 2025 6:41 am

Chapter 260

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Haa

Contrary to my expectations, the Archbishop rolled his eyes as if exasperated and let out a deep sigh.

What made you so dissatisfied with me, huh?

Was it disappointing that I met you in another body without explaining it?

Another body. Hes finally speaking the truth.

Hes a habitual liar. When we watched the play together, he explained his ability by saying he could change faces. But at that time, based on the information I had, I was certain his ability was transformation.

Instead, while acknowledging his transformation ability, he plans to dodge the core reason for this mess.

Why? Because he doesnt know how much I know, so he cant outright deny it, but admitting it risks me just fishing for information.

Lu Barres face now fully mirrored the Archbishops expression.

Or is it because I appeared by your side in this form? Since you prefer Old Humans, its understandable it could be that.

No problem there. The issue is your mindset.

Really? Then were on the same wavelength. Youre not an ordinary person either.

Why do you think that?

Considering everything Ive planned has fallen apart, isnt it obvious?

You have a lot of confidence in your abilities.

Of course. So, is it my turn to defend myself now?

Struggling to breathe under the pressure of my hand, he inhaled deeply and spoke slowly.

Dont be too disappointed. To be precise, until this moment, this person wasnt entirely me. The me you met was in the Archbishops body.

Especially this body was even more detached from me. Because you smashed the artifact, the memories came rushing in, but originally, it was practically a different self. So, does that clear things up?

No. So, Lu Barre isnt really you?

What do you think?

Lu Barre asked with a sly smile.

I shook my head and laughed.

Its obviously just one of your bodies. Whats there to ask?

You know well. So, will you let me go now? I dont want to stay in this body in front of you. Honestly, its embarrassing.

Then transform right here in front of me.

He looked at me silently.

He cant transform, can he? If he has the same transformation mechanism as Richthofen, thats certain.

Back then, he explained his ability like this:

Transformation is the ability to swap with a being that has a synchronized core of the same components in real-time.

Lets say the world were in is World A, and a world of pure Magic Power, which we can neither know nor access, is World B. They coexist, but we only perceive World A.

When transforming into a dog, Richthofens body in World A moves to World B, becoming invisible to us, while the dog in World B moves to World A. Strictly speaking, the dogs body doesnt carry Max Richthofens genes. Its a completely different body swapped across worlds via a synchronized core.

Back then, with the stalkers elimination in mind, I asked him:

What happens if you cant use your ability, or if you transform but cant return?

Richthofen answered, If your Magic Power is depleted after transforming, you cant return.

Depletion. Fighting until depletion isnt bad. But does it have to be that way? Is there a specific reason it must be?

Wouldnt it suffice to simply block his Magic Power from being used?

I moved my left hand, making the sound of clashing metal, and brushed his face.

I told you before. I want to know every moment of you. Id like to see you transform at least once.

Youre good at pleasing and infuriating people at the same time. Thats what makes it fun, though

Fortunately, he correctly interpreted my words as a challenge to try it if you can.

Since its come to this, shall we hear your story? How did you figure out Lu Schellers identity?

Figuring out Lu Barres identity wasnt difficult. There were many clues.

First, the Suggestion. Second, a +10 Favorability. Third, a baseless name not of his own makingLou: a shortened form of Louise or Louis. Using abbreviations as proper names is extremely rare among nobles in this era. Fourth, a Mental Strength of +4 [+9], clearly enhanced by an artifact. Fifth, his need to verify love. Sixth, the fact that Lu Barre and the Archbishop were never in the same space at the same time. Seventh, his free access to the basement and the masters room. Eighth, fugitive, Low German, Barre.

When would I have time to explain all this to him? I have plenty of time, but its not a topic I care about, and my mouth would hurt.

So my answer was this:

Youre awfully relaxed, asking all that.

I need to know where I went wrong to succeed next time.

There wont be a next time.

True. Honestly, Im at a loss for what to do.

I checked the slowly ticking stopwatch in the status window. All I can do now is stall until help arrives. With the distortion, Ill have to wait a long time here.

Looking down at him, I spoke slowly.

You asked if I was disappointed because you appeared in another face and didnt tell me the truth.

I wasnt disappointed about that at all. After all, if its you, youd have needed to appear before me as Lu Scheller.

Oh! You expected it to some extent, huh? Interesting. Whats your basis?

You mustve had a lot of questions for me. Like how far Id go to fulfill your requests how much I love you. But if you asked as the Archbishop, you wouldnt get honest answers from me.

The Archbishop listened silently. I looked down at his face, half-obscured by the table, with only one eye visible, and continued.

So you used a third party to get honest answers from me. Whether I could become Pleroma like you, whether I could give you blood to drink, whether I could fulfill any of your requests without hesitation

Whether I love you enough to resist the temptation to escape.

Ah~ Spot on.

He burst into laughter. I dont know whats so funny about this situation.

I continued.

So when I said I had more to ask about my last conversation with Lu Scheller, you had no choice but to grant my request. Even if it came during a ceremony to pledge loveespecially because of that. The words you spoke through Lus body were meant to verify my love.

Really

If you resented my lies thats unfortunate.

The Archbishop slowly closed his eyes.

As expected, youre Nicolaus.

Boom!

!

My head jolted as it hit something. Lu Barre kicked my leg and stood, now looming over me. He habitually brushed his ear with one hand, then raised an eyebrow, probably mistaking that his hair was down as it was in the Archbishops body. Regardless, he laughed as if even that was amusing. Smiling with squinted eyes, he spoke rapidly.

Resent? No way. Im sorry for deceiving you. I wanted to live happily with you. You know? I gave everything for you. Im not asking for repayment, but I finally got you after giving my all, and I just wanted to hear your true feelings, even just once.

Would that ruin things between us? If so, Im truly sorry, but you just said you werent dsappointed by it. Im glad. We really are on the same wavelength.

Hearing such words in a New Humans form and voice makes my stomach churn a bit more. Fine, Ill admit some bias based on appearance. Maybe I do prefer Old Humans. Or rather, its closer to familiarity. If I lived as a New Human for 20 more years, I might think like them, but Im an Old Human here for less than a year.

Cant we keep going? I wont do anything you dislike anymore

Lu Barres left hand covered my cheek.

If you release this, Ill return to the form I showed you earlier. Wouldnt that be better?

Ive never understood this. Why do you love me? Why?

Hm? I love you because I love you. Is there a reason for love?

I think there is. At least, there has to be a cause.

Thats a subtle distinction.

There must be a cause for falling in love. How could there not be? I dont believe its possible. Maybe thats why Elias calls me a machine. Even so, I think its worth examining the primary cause of this phenomenon.

Think carefully. Why do you act so crazy about me? Sure, youre crazy, but why is that directed at me?

Is that important? Isnt the fact that we love each other right now what matters?

Its important because its the answer to why you held 600,000 lives hostage to play a terror game with me.

Lu Barre tilted his head with a smile.

Youre being overly sensitive right now.

Since I brought up this topic again without backing down, he mustve decided he cant retreat anymore. Unlike earlier when he avoided answering, hes now set on a course.

Its true I can move between multiple bodies. Its not unlimited, but yes, the attendant Lu you saw was me. But holding 600,000 lives hostage to play a terror game with you?

He now wore a troubled expression. His face drew closer to mine.

Even for me, thats too much. I lost a lot to save you. Im not demanding repayment, as I said, but I dont want to hear this kind of talk.

Got it?

Hoo

Instead of answering, I stared into his brown eyes.

He took my restrained hand and pulled a rose from my boutonniere, holding it out.

Lets go kill Ainsidel.

Ainsidel may try to take you away, but what can I do? If you dont trust me that much, itd be easier to just go together.

Youre impressive in many ways. Stop it.

Stop? I dont know what youre thinking now, but its not a lie that I know Ainsidels location.

No, its not a lie.

At my cold response, he stopped moving and looked down at me.

Ainsidel is with the Pleroma leadership right now, isnt he? Am I wrong?

You seem pretty shaken. Earlier, and even before, you kept misjudging how much I know and now youve decided to just call the Bishop of Osnabruck Ainsidel?

Lu Barre raised an eyebrow. The corner of his mouth slowly curled up.

Ha, hahahaha!

When you talked about Heike Ainsidel and the Bishop of Osnabruck, you said, At least their surname and unique ability prove theyre related. Why would you say that to me without even introducing the Bishops surname, assuming I know it? Just the other day, you naturally referred to the Bishop of Osnabruck as Ainsidel. Same now. Why? Because I know the Bishops surname. Because you know I know. You said you met me after Eszett, so thats curious.

Its not easy to pretend you dont know something you do. Once or twice, maybe, but lies dont last long. You knew I, as Nicolaus, infiltrated the Catacombs, then Osnabruck, and attacked the Bishop, Ainsidel.

Haha

How can you pretend not to know that? Up to this point, Ive proven you knew about my connection to Osnabruck since early January.

Well, fine. But what does this have to do with terrorism? You know, living with multiple faces makes acting a daily routine. It was just a mistake in the process. At least I, as the Archbishop, only saw you after you joined Eszett.

His voice was gentle. He didnt seem to think it was a big deal.

And why would he? I havent even touched the core yet.

Youre protecting me from Ainsidel and the Pleroma leadership. And now, the leadership announced theyll use me as bait to lure Ainsidel. So youve been holding back the leadership and trying to personally eliminate Ainsidel to stop their reach toward me.

Yes.

What a funny story. Its not me being chased by Ainsidel and the Pleroma leadershipits you.

Me?

He smiled and continued.

How long are you going to slander me? I keep listening because I love you, but honestly, its not pleasant.

You dont have any other choice but to listen right now.

I tapped the metal binding my wrist against the table and said,

You could baptize me right now or break the space magic, so why are you sitting still? Because you cant use magic, youre waiting quietly.

Not wrong. Alright, lets talk about something else. Your voice is nice to hear.

Thankfully, Im used to hearing this kind of crazy talk, so I have some immunity. His words and actions didnt match. His words were relaxed, but instead of casually touching my face as usual, he looked down at me with a slightly stiff smile.

I met his chilling eyes and spoke.

Youre a truly brilliant person. I dont want to praise you, but I cant help but acknowledge this. Youre the most exceptional strategist Ive seen in this world.

Before Pentalon, you had two goals. First, to win my heart. Second, to eliminate Ainsidel.

Why would I need to

Good question. Why did you need to eliminate Ainsidel? Just because of rivalry between dioceses? Thats not enough.

I cupped his cheek with my hand and continued.

Because Ainsidel was trying to kill you, you had no choice but to stop him.

The Freiburg Archdiocese is the one that contaminated the empires land, rivers, and air with berserk potions. The diocese that brought the nation to the brink of emergency, Pleromas unparalleled hero. Right? The berserk potions used across all Pleroma dioceses are your invention, arent they?

You know. Thats pleasing.

The Archbishop answered calmly.

I had previously discussed this with Congressman Alexander Kluger, asking if the contaminated mosquitoes in Mepen were Freiburgs doing. Because it was the first attempt to use contaminated Magic Power to make people go berserk. The contaminated mosquitoes were the starting point of the current nationwide berserk crisis, with the same principle and purpose.

At the time, the congressman said, Its highly likely the two dioceses closely shared their technologies. They mustve shared the profits too, and that its clear the two dioceses were in a cooperative relationship.

He was wrong.

The reason Ainsidel tried to kill you stems from this. You stole Congressman Werner Straus technology to develop the berserk potion, didnt you?

I smiled, but he couldnt. His eyes widened slightly, then a cold smile spread across his face.

I took his silence as a willingness to hear more and continued.

So how could a diocese in the southernmost part of the empire steal technology developed by the deputy bishop of the northernmostdiocese? Who is the fugitive Lu Barre wanted by? The surname Barre you hid from me is an Osnabruck noble family, and the Low German you habitually spoke is also Osnabrucks German.

Barre? I never said that Your ability is impressive.

Ignoring the Archbishops meaningful smile, I continued.

Lu Barre is currently wanted by the Osnabruck diocese. Long ago, you used the body of Lu Barre, an Osnabruck noble, to approach Pleroma in Osnabruck, and without arousing suspicion, you were eventually ordained as a cleric. With your exceptional abilities, you mustve risen quickly. Now, you know what Im going to say.

Lu Barre worked as a cleric there, siphoning Osnabrucks technology to Freiburg.

This is the answer.

I had thought about this before at the Pentalon main stadium:

[Youll realize there are several blind spots in the logic so far. If you delve deeply, those blind spots completely flip the issue. When learning a subject for the first time, to avoid overwhelming beginners, we assume the impossible to create the simplest model to build fundamentals. Similarly, I must think simply here to later grasp the layers of strategy clearly.]

Now, the most critical blind spot is resolved.

If I erased Ainsidels memories and destroyed Osnabrucks double-space magic data, how were double-space magic and its applied formreverse double-space magicused in the terror attack?

Did Ainsidel have some miraculous memory technique?

No.

I looked at the Archbishop, who was chuckling, and said,

Before I destroyed Osnabrucks data, Lu Barre backed up all the data obtained from spying in Osnabruck to your diocese. The Bishop of Osnabruck forgot those memories forever, but you could still use the double-space magic technology.

And as the Archbishop, you used the contaminated mosquito research data stolen from Osnabruck to perfect the berserk potion, which you first deployed in the Baden-Baden hot springs under Freiburgs jurisdiction. The experiment was a success, and afterward, you rose to the top of Pleroma. At least recently.

Huh Hahaha

Even if everyone applauded your achievement, the original creator couldnt. They mustve realized your achievement wasnt your idea but theirs. Ainsidel of Osnabruck figured out your berserk potion was based on Werner Straus idea from Mepens research, and from then on, hes been pursuing you.

The Archbishops breathing grew strangely rapid. The corner of his mouth slowly curled upward.

Unfortunately, Ainsidel is someone who stops at nothing for his dioceses achievements and is obsessively devoted to his friend Werner Strau. You, like me wouldnt have known that far. You were lucky to have an Osnabruck nobles body to use for spying, but the information you gained turned out to be blood-related.

It mustve been a headache.

He didnt refute. He just kept giggling like a madman.

So why did you cause the terror? Honestly, I was impressed here. If you hadnt held 600,000 lives hostage, I couldve genuinely enjoyed this strategic game with you.

You mustve been disappointed that I wasnt grateful even after you saved me. According to your plan, I shouldve been moved to tears by your sacrifice and devotion to protect me from the enemy Isnt it standard for a princess to fall for the prince on a white horse?

I took the rose from his hand and set it down.

He didnt resist. His attention was on what Id say next.

Your initial scenario was to make Lukas Askanian mistake Ainsidel as the mastermind behind the Pentalon terror, then save Lukas Askanian from mortal danger. This would achieve two effects. First, youd win Lukas Askanians favor. Second, Lukas Askanian would try to eliminate Ainsidel, the supposed terrorist and avenger of Werner Strau. In other words, youd gain Lukas Askanian as an ally.

Hahaha

Of course, because I publicly shouted the answer, the second effect was completely ruined. The white phosphorus match wasnt sent by you.

At that, the Archbishops eyes glinted.

He met me in the basement near Brandenburgs Tiss Hotel when the contaminated rats were found, asking if Id seen a strange code. Meaning, a code other than the anagram he sent.

Tell it to everyone, that white phosphorus code was sent to me by Ainsidel, who caught onto your scheme. You sensed something off from Ainsidel and came to me, didnt you? Am I wrong?

In fact, the dismantling spell Osnabruck diocese is looking for you didnt need to be heard by everyone. It wasnt really a dismantling spell. It was just a warp magic spell to capture me. Adding the dismantling technique was Ainsidels doing. The lifting of the 600,000 curse wasnt part of your plan.

You know well You know so well its astonishing.

The Archbishop burst into laughter and said.

Why wasnt it part of the plan?

Because if 600,000 people died, Id go with the Archbishop, posing as a virtuous citizen, to eliminate Ainsidel.

Ainsidel is using me too. By sending me the code Tell it to everyone, he made all of Pleromas dioceses focus on you. You had no intention of advertising this disobedience, which could lead to at least diocesan expulsion or, at worst, loss of authority, to the leadership.

With one plan, you could achieve two goals at once. Its a shame such a brilliant strategist isnt an ally.

He was now almost panting. He looked like he was in a near-panic state. On closer thought, it seemed he was reacting this way because he was completely consumed by his emotions, unable to control them.

Since you came this far knowing everything, if you feel betrayed Im sorry?

Ah Right. Hahahahaha!

He threw his head back, laughing, then dropped it. Lu Barres black hair fell over his eyes.

As expected. As expected, you Feeling betrayed and sad? No. This is how it should be

He grabbed my shoulder with one hand. The pain from my shoulder made my face grimace.

He kept chuckling and swaying. Then he slowly raised his head.

I saw his chillingly gleaming eyes.

Surprisingly, the emotion I read in him was ecstasy.

Perfect. This is the you I know.

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